Frenzied speculation is brewing in Turkish football circles after Fenerbahce sensationally announced that they've agreed to sign Manchester City stalwart Nathan Aké. The deal, valued at an initial £7 million with a possible increase to £8.5 million via add-ons, has caught the Etihad Stadium outfit off guard – or so it seems.
The bombshell revelation on Friday has left many in the football world scratching their heads, as sources close to City claim that Fenerbahce's statement was premature and that the transfer is still far from complete. The Turkish Süper Lig runners-up have confirmed that Aké will link up with his new teammates at their Austrian training camp after a brief break.
Should this blockbuster deal go ahead, it'll bring an end to Aké's six-year odyssey at City, where he's amassed an astonishing haul of silverware. The 31-year-old joined the Premier League champions from Bournemouth in the summer of 2020 for £41 million and has since become a key figure in their success, lifting four Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, and two Carabao Cups under Pep Guardiola's tutelage.
Despite his impressive trophy collection, Aké found regular game time a challenge in Guardiola's final season at City, making just six starts across 18 Premier League appearances. His contract was due to expire next summer, but he still had a year remaining on the four-year deal signed after their Champions League triumph in 2023.
Interestingly, Aké recently featured in three of the Netherlands' four World Cup matches, starting two, before being substituted in the last-32 tie against Morocco. His impending arrival at Fenerbahce is seen as a masterstroke by president Aziz Yildirim, who reportedly identified Aké as a top transfer target prior to his election last month.